Jun 28

I’m Sure you’ve heard doctors say it before, “I’m sorry there’s nothing we can do …you have arthritis.” If not for yourself than maybe for someone you know who has it. A degenerative joint disease called osteoarthritis is one of the oldest and most common types of arthritis. It is the breakdown of the joint’s cartilage; the part of the joint that cushions the ends of bones. When the joint cartilage breaks down it causes bones to rub together, causing pain and loss of movement. This disease mostly affects middle-aged and older people. Osteoarthritis can cause mild or severe pain in the affected area. It affects hands and joints that bear weight such as knees, hips, feet and the back.

There are many things that can cause osteoarthritis. Although age is a factor, research has shown that osteoarthritis can be prevented even with age. There Are Many Causes for osteoarthritis including: 1. Obesity - May lead to osteoarthritis of the knees due to excesses weight. 2. Joint Injuries - Sports, work- related activities or accidents may be put you at increased risk of developing Osteoarthritis. 3. Genetics - Plays a role in the development of Osteoarthritis particularly in the hands. Some people may be born with defective cartilage or with problems in the way that joints fit together. People with genetic disadvantages may develop early cartilage breakdown in the joint which could cause inflammation, a release of enzymes, and more cartilage damage. What if I told you arthritis has an explanation most doctors and scientists have completely overlooked? It may be possible to slow down the progression of arthritis and ease the pain? Would you be interested if I told you I have scientific proof to back it up?

If you’re not interested yet after you read these chilling statistics, you will be. Osteoarthritis affects an estimated 20.7 million Americans, mostly after age 45. Women are more commonly affected than men. Osteoarthritis is responsible for more than 7 million physician visits per year Eighty percent of people with osteoarthritis report some form of limitation in movement or activities. Knee osteoarthritis can be as disabling as any cardiovascular disease except stroke. As many as half the people who have osteoarthritis do not know what type of arthritis they have and cannot make informed decisions about their care because treatment options vary among the more than 100 forms of arthritis. Musculoskeletal conditions such as osteoarthritis cost the U.S. economy nearly $65 billion per year in direct expenses and lost wages and production.

Enough about that. Let me ask you a question: What happens to the wheels on your car if the alignment on the front end is messed up? They wear out… right? Not only do they wear out…they wear out FASTER than they should.

So what do you do when the front end of your car’s alignment is messed up? You take it to the mechanic to get an alignment. As soon as he does this, the abnormal stress on your tires stops…and…your tires stop wearing out abnormally. The same is technique applies to your spine and the other joints of your body. The joints in your spine CAN misalign…causing them to unnaturally move or not move at all. Witch ever it is, this can cause abnormal stress and strain. Your joints are like the tires of your car and just like the tires on your car when the front end is out of alignment…your joints wear out. This is…Osteo or Degenerative Arthritis!

Tapio Vidman, M.D. did extensive research on arthritis and found that when he caused a joint to not work right…Microscopic Damage Was found Within 24 Hours And PERMANENT Degenerative Changes Took Place Within 3 Weeks! Basically, when your joints are no longer aligned and no longer have move arthritic changes begun to occur right away and permanent damage that can no longer be reversed may be present within just 3 weeks. How do you fix it?

Simple. Take a look at what you did when the front end of your car was out of alignment. You went to someone who specializes in detecting and correcting misaligned front ends on cars. Know this: Your mechanic didn’t put something in your gas tank or oil to try to “chemically” realign your wheels. No. That wouldn’t make sense. He simply realigned the wheels. Listen, the same is true with your body. What makes you think taking a drug or rubbing on a lotion will realign your joints? It won’t. Sure, powerful painkillers may mask the problem for a while…but…what happens when they wear off?

The bottom line is: If your joints are misaligned, they will continue to degenerate and, Chiropractic Helps Align Misaligned Joints! This happens in Your Hands, Knees, Ankles, Feet, Neck, Low Back, & Your Entire Spinal Column! By making your joints function properly, you will live a life with less stiffness and pain.

After reading this, doesn’t it make sense that Chiropractic care will also slow down…if not… prevent much of the degenerative process and arthritis? Why Wait Until You Have Pain, Before Seeking Chiropractic Care? Come in to see a chiropractor today to see and feel better than the way you came in. Contact us to us if you ever have any questions or concerns about your health. We’re here to help,

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Jun 24

Reisterstown Chiropractic is a great place to get relief from sports related injuries. If most people had their choice though, they would rather stay injury free.

If you injure yourself on the weekend having fun, you will miss work, or worse, have to spend time in the hospital. No one wants to get hurt while having fun. Take care before you take the bike out, or put on your in line skates, or take the snow board out of storage.

Wear a helmet if you take your bike on the road. Even if you are on secluded bike path wear a helmet. And certainly wear one if you are on a busy highway. Buy one that fits snugly but not too tight. Make sure the helmet is approved by the bicycle safety board.

Where a helmet when skating. The helmet should be approved by the skating safety commission. You should also wear knee pads and elbow guards. Some people like to wear a mouth guard as well in case they fall and hit their mouth on a hard surface. If you want to protect that beautiful smile, consider wearing one as well.

Do you like to take the snow board up to the ski slopes in the winter time? Well, you need to take some precautions to protect yourself. Do you know the most common injury that snow boarders suffer? If you said wrist injury, you would be right because people tend to fall backwards and try to break their fall with their hands.

You can curl your fingers inward when you fall in order to reduce your chance of serious injury. This will, in most cases, keep you from breaking your wrist when you snow board. Follow these safety tips and you will have a fun injury free weekend. If an injury occurs, seeing the Reisterstown chiropractic team will help you to resolve your issues quickly.

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Sep 03

The growing awareness of safe driving and state safety laws have alerted the general public and parents to the importance of using car seats for their small children whenever and wherever they are driving. Most states require the use of car seats for children under the age of 4 and weighing less than 40 pounds. However, these safety rules aimed at protecting children may cause serious neck and spinal injuries and can even be deadly if the child car seats are used incorrectly.

The American Chiropractic Association, its Council on Occupational Health and ACA member Dr. Michael Freeman, trauma epidemiologist and clinical assistant professor of public health and preventive medicine at the Oregon Health Sciences University School of Medicine, have developed the following general guidelines and safety tips to ensure proper car seat safety.

Make sure the child safety seat is appropriate for the age and size of the child. A newborn infant requires a different seat than a 3-year-old toddler. Car seats for infants should always be rear facing as the forces and impact of a crash will be spread more evenly along the back and shoulders, providing more protection for the neck. Car seats should always be placed in the back seat of the car-ideally in the center. This is especially important in cars equipped with air bags. If an air bag becomes deployed, the force could seriously injure or kill a child or infant placed in the front seat. Make sure the car seat is properly secured to the seat of the vehicle and is placed at a 45-degree angle to support the head of the infant or child. The lap harness should be fastened low, as close to the hips as possible; the harness should never be fastened around the waist. Make certain the shoulder harness is fastened securely and the straps lay flat against the body. Twisted straps can cause additional injury that might prevent the seat from working properly. Use a retention clip (if provided by the manufacturer) when securing a child safety seat with the shoulder harness. The retention or shoulder harness clip is an added safety feature and must be fastened close to the armpit of the infant or child. Borrowing or purchasing a used car seat can be dangerous. There is the possibility of unknown or undetected damage. Car seats that have been in a serious accident should never be used again. Be sure the seat meets federal motor vehicle safety seat standards. Consult the owner’s manual or contact the manufacturer for that information. All car seats should have an owner’s manual and instruction booklet. Be sure the clip between the legs of the child is fastened snugly. While car accidents can be dangerous for all passengers, small children are especially at risk, according to Dr. Scott Bautch, past president of ACA’s Council on Occupational Health. “The weight of the head of a child makes the cervical spine much more vulnerable to injury,” Dr. Bautch explained. “The infant has little control in the muscles of the neck, and the head can bounce from side to side and fall forward, which can cause serious spine and neck injuries. Children have more flexible upper bodies and shoulders. Make sure the harness comes up, way up, over the shoulders.”

Underscoring the importance of proper car seat use, a recent article in Nation’s Health reported the findings of a study conducted in Kentucky by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study found a 37 percent drop in infant fatalities since the 1982 enactment of the state law mandating the use of child car seats. “To continue this decline, prevention efforts now must focus on the proper use of the seats to maximize their life-saving potential,” researchers said.

The key when traveling with small children is to be aware of and follow these rules and tips to ensure proper car seat safety. And remember everyone: Buckle up!

If you or one of your children have been involved in a serious automobile accident and have neck and back discomfort, you should consider a visit to a chiropractor.

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